Events

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8-9 September 2025, University of Technology – Iraq

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Date: 2nd ,September 2025
Venue: COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Time: 10:00-3:30 PST

Flyer: Click Here

About the Workshop:

OIC – COMSTECH, in collaboration with leading botanical scientists from Azerbaijan & other OIC countries is organizing a focused One-day international workshop on nature-based medicinal and cosmetic products. The workshop will showcase traditional knowledge, research advances, product development, and commercialization strategies in the field of botanical sciences.

This event aims to strengthen scientific exchange and promote collaborative research between Pakistan, Azerbaijan & OIC countries on herbal medicines and cosmetic formulations using indigenous plant resources.

Objective:

The primary aim of the workshop is to:

1. Foster scientific exchange between Pakistan, OIC members and Azerbaijan.
2. Promote collaborative research on indigenous medicinal plants.
3. Explore product development strategies in herbal medicine and cosmetics.
4. Facilitate knowledge transfer and commercialization pathways in the botanical sector.

 Key Themes:

1. Medicinal plant biodiversity of Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and OIC member states.
2. Traditional knowledge systems and pharmacological validation.
3. Botanical extract formulations for dermatology and cosmetics.
4. Scientific research and innovation in herbal product development.
5. Pakistan, Azerbaijan and OIC member states R&D collaboration and commercialization pathways.

Target Beneficiaries:

•     Researchers and scientists in the field of botany, pharmacognosy, and natural products.

•     Faculty members and postgraduate students from relevant disciplines.

•     Industry professionals in herbal medicine and cosmetic formulation.

•     Policymakers and R&D stakeholders from OIC countries.

Speakers & Experts from:

• Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.
• International speakers from Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

PARTICIPANTS:

• Registration Link: Click Here
• Physically only for Islamabad/Rawalpindi residents.
• Virtual: Open for all OIC members states & other countries.
• Certificates will be provided to all participants-80% of attendance is necessary for certificates.

Highlights:

• Inaugural session with senior Scientists from Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
• Scientific presentations and expert talks.
• Certificate of participation for attendees.

Limited Seats Available – Pre-registration Required
For Registration and Information: Click Here

Application Deadline: 20^th August, 2025

 OIC-COMSTECH, in collaboration with China’s top -ranked Ningbo University, announces a joint program on Aerospace Biomedicine, Pharmaceuticals, and Artificial Intelligence, this program offers to provide hands-on training on Medical and STEM fields.  

Background:

OIC-COMSTECH, in collaboration with China’s top-ranked Ningbo University, has launched a specialized joint program aimed at strengthening the scientific and technological capacity of OIC member states. This initiative focuses on hands-on training in aerospace medicine, biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, and artificial intelligence, with a strong emphasis on medical and STEM related fields. The program is an attempt the meet the need for skilled researchers, technical personnel in these emerging disciplines, equipping participants with practical expertise to support healthcare innovation and technological advancement across the Islamic world.

Objective:

• To provide hands-on training in Aerospace Medicine, Biomedicine, Pharmaceuticals, and Artificial Intelligence.
• To enhance the technical skills of researchers and professionals from OIC member states in emerging medical and technological fields.
• To foster collaboration and knowledge exchange between OIC countries and Ningbo University for sustainable scientific development.

Target Beneficiaries:

This program will benefit Research Scientists and STEM teachers related to fields such as Biochemistry, Biological Science, Pharmaceutical, Aerospace Science, Chemical Sciences and teachers from academic and research institutions of OIC member and observer states, and Muslim Minorites in non-OIC member states can apply.

Eligibility Criteria:

• At least MS degree in STEM fields
• All OIC member states, Muslims minorities of non-OIC states.
• Staff of HEIs & R&D Labs and institutes.

Program support:

• OIC-COMSTECH will cover travel and visa cost of the selected participants.
• Ningbo University will provide accommodation, (double occupancy) and halal meals.

Application Link: Click Here

Poster:  Attached

Address: COMSTECH Secretariat, 33-Constitution Avenue, G-5/2, Islamabad 
Phone No. : 92 51 9220681-3
Email: pcayesha@comstech.org ; khazima@comstech.org ; comstech@comstech.org

Please submit abstracts to: 1. https://forms.gle/AERkXSRSgrewN1Vp9 / naprecauganda@gmail.com

Date: Monday, August 4, 2025. 3:30 PM (Pakistan Standard Time)
By:
Dr. Shamsher Ali
Clinical/Regulatory Affairs Specialist at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, USA.

Flyer: Click Here

Introduction:

In recent years, the importance of robust clinical trial frameworks has grown significantly, particularly as global health crises and rapid advancements in medicine demand faster yet safer drug development. Pakistan, with its large and diverse patient population, holds untapped potential for clinical research. However, the regulatory environment governing clinical trials in the country remains a significant bottleneck. The approval processes managed by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) are often slow, which discourages both local and international research sponsors.

Despite attempts to align with international standards, Pakistan’s clinical trial regulations remain loosely harmonized with global benchmarks such as those set by the FDA, EMA, and ICH. Ethical oversight mechanisms, particularly Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), are inconsistently developed across institutions, often lacking the training and resources required to conduct timely and rigorous reviews. This adds further delays and raises concerns about compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP).

In addition, regulatory bodies face challenges in terms of staffing, expertise, and technological infrastructure. The absence of digital submission systems, real-time monitoring tools, and centralized databases hinders the efficiency and transparency of trial management. Legal ambiguities around participant rights, data protection, and injury compensation further complicate the regulatory landscape, contributing to an environment of uncertainty for sponsors and investigators alike.

This talk will examine the primary regulatory challenges confronting clinical trials in Pakistan today, evaluates their impact on research and innovation, and outlines actionable steps to align the country’s clinical trial framework with global best practices.

Speaker Profile:

Dr. Shamsher Ali is a highly experienced clinical and regulatory affairs professional with more than 15 years of multidisciplinary expertise spanning clinical research, regulatory strategy, scientific innovation, and trial operations. With a robust academic foundation and advanced training in biomedical research, Dr. Ali has successfully transitioned into leading global Phase I–III clinical trials in diverse therapeutic areas, including oncology (CAR-T, plasma-derived therapies), cardiology, dermatology, diabetes, autoimmune, and rare diseases.

Currently serving as a Clinical/Regulatory Affairs Specialist at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Dr. Ali oversees end-to-end regulatory operations for over 100 active clinical studies. He is responsible for regulatory submissions (INDs, CTAs, ICFs, CSRs), AE/SAE reporting, TMF and CTMS oversight, vendor management, and regulatory correspondence with the FDA, EMA, and major IRBs (WCG, Advarra, NCI CIRB). His expertise in tools such as OnCore, Advarra eReg, REDCap, Medidata, and Shared Investigator Platform (SIP) enhances trial efficiency, documentation integrity, and inspection readiness.

Dr. Ali’s industry and academic career includes leadership roles at Alliance Foundation Trials, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Dräger Medical Systems, and American International Chemical. Across these positions, he led regulatory and quality operations, vendor compliance programs, global clinical submissions, and cross-functional collaboration to meet both scientific and regulatory milestones.

Prior to transitioning into regulatory leadership, Dr. Ali conducted extensive postdoctoral research in biomedical sciences. At Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, he led projects on airway remodeling and stem cell behavior using advanced biophysical and imaging techniques. At MIT/Harvard (Brigham and Women’s Hospital), he co-developed microgel-based bioengineered tissue platforms and pioneered cell-patterning technologies for regenerative medicine. At Northeastern University, he specialized in the chemical modification and structural characterization of bioactive oligosaccharides, contributing to drug development for inflammatory diseases.

Dr. Ali holds a PhD in Chemistry and a Master of Science in Regulatory Affairs from Northeastern University. His unique blend of translational science, clinical operations, and regulatory strategy positions him as a leader at the intersection of innovation, compliance, and patient-focused research. Dr. Ali has published his research in peer-reviewed journals like PNAS and Lab on a Chip

Who can attend?

Potential participants for the webinar include clinical researchers, regulatory professionals, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare policymakers, academic researchers and educators, and international research sponsors.

How to register

For registration, please fill the following form: Click Here

Zoom Link will be shared with the participants 1-2 days before the webinar.

Webinar Coordinator:

Muhammad Haseeb Ahmad
Program Officer
Haseeb.ahmad@comstech.org

Date: August 28, 2025, Time: 14:00-15:30 PKT
By:
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aziz Rahman
Professor of Public Health,
Research Adviser,
Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University Australia

Flyer: Click Here

Introduction:

The webinar will showcase public health career pathway of the speaker along with scope and opportunities to contribute globally in this domain, including research, teaching, programs, collaboration, policies and advocacies.

Speaker Profile:

Professor Rahman is an experienced academic, a medical doctor, and a public health professional. He has worked in public health research and teaching for over 20 years in Australian and international settings. He has an excellent track record of providing leadership in completing different research and community projects successfully focusing on various aspects of public health, securing funding, producing high-quality research publications, supervising higher degree research students, assisting in capacity building, and providing supportive supervision to the early/mid-career researchers and collaborating successfully with experienced researchers. He has published more than 200 research papers in multidisciplinary journals with more than 125,000 citations. Due to his extraordinary track record of research citations, he has been ranked amongst the world’s top 2% scientists for the last five years (2020-24), ranking done by Elsevier BV and Stanford University, USA. He has contributed to generating over $13 million in funding in his professional career. He has extensive international research collaborations with over 25 countries and has successfully led several multi-country research projects with significant outputs.

Professor Rahman is currently working as the Professor of Public Health and Research Adviser at the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at Federation University Australia. He is also the Vice President of the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA).

Who can attend?

Potential participants for the webinar include public health students and graduates, public health professionals, medical and healthcare practitioners, academic researchers and educators, policy makers and advocates, NGOs and community leaders, and early/mid-career researchers.

How to register

For registration, please fill the following form: Click Here

Zoom Link will be shared with the participants 1-2 days before the webinar.

Webinar Coordinator:
Muhammad Haseeb Ahmad
Program Officer
Haseeb.ahmad@comstech.org

Registration link: Click Here